Navigating Small Claims in BC (Recorded Webinar)

Lawyer and legal coach Matt Canzer answers common questions about navigating small claims in British Columbia and shares best practices so you know what to expect and how to prepare. Current to March 2026. Show notes at https://www.peopleslawschool.ca/webin... Overview of small claims court 7:30 The dollar limit and types of claims you can bring to small claims court. 9:30 Steps in the small claims process and how long the process takes. 12:30 The cost of taking your claim to small claims court when you hire a lawyer or a legal coach, or do it yourself. Before I file a notice of claim or reply 15:35 How to organize your case before you file your claim or when you get sued in small claims. 18:00 How to figure out how much a case is worth. 20:45 The deadline to sue or to reply. 23:25 Whether to try to settle your dispute before filing a claim, and if so, whether to put your settlement in writing. Filing a notice of claim or reply 30:40 How to fill out a notice of claim. 35:00 How to fill out a reply. 37:35 When to make a counterclaim or third party claim. Preparing for and attending a settlement conference 39:40 What to expect at a settlement conference. 41:35 How to prepare for a settlement conference. Preparing for trial 44:15 How to prepare for a trial conference and trial, including how to prepare a trial statement. After trial 51:35 Whether you can appeal if you lose your case in small claims court. 52:50 What to do if you go to trial and win and want to collect the judgment. Live questions 54:25 Whether the settlement conference and trial will be held in person or online. 55:55 Whether you can subpoena documents from the other side. 57:00 Whether you can bring a strata dispute to small claims court. 58:20 Whether you can get punitive damages.